New Job Scams -- And How to Avoid Them

New Job Scams -- And How to Avoid ThemNew Job Scams And How to Avoid Them1Its a sad, but true, reality. For every real online job, there may be up to 100 job scams. And the job scammers are getting savvier by the day, coming up with new tactics to convince job seekers their job scams are real.Weve posted about job scams before on , but here is a refresher course on some old job scams- and some new ones, too- to help you protect yourself from job scammers.Here are 6 job scams to look out forInstant message interviews.Whether youre applying for a telecommuting position or even an in-office one, we havent heard of a single legitimate case where an employer asked a candidate to do an interview via IM. Its just not done and is a job scam. Ditto for mail interviews. If youre a true candidate for a real job, youll be asked to come in (if the office is nearby) or youll do a phone or Skype interview. They key for an interview is to first make sure you can confirm you are talking to a real pe rson at a real hiring company, and IM gives no such valid contact informationthats why scammers use it.Asking for money.Weve said it before and well say it again You should never, ever have to pay to work at a company. So no matter what the reason- for example, even if the company gives you a free laptopbut then entices you to purchase their proprietary softwareto use on it- you shouldnt hand over your hard-earned money to a potential employer. While the job offer might be seemingly authentic or convincing, if a potential boss asks you to send money (especially if its via a wire transfer or where you deposit money into an account and take a percentage), the job is almost certainly a scam. Protect your money and watch out for this job scam.Asking for your bank account information.Job scammers want access to your cash- fast. They might position it as an up-front fee for a phone headset or for some other hardware or software item that is required for you to start the job. If a potentia l employer asks you for sensitive personal or financial information, such as your social security number or checking account information, you should stop in your tracks with that company and say youre sorry, but you know that is a sign of a scam. Simply, legitimate employers shouldnt ask you for this information.Texting as a way to communicate.You text your kids, your mom, and your partner. But you dont text a hiring manager, and he shouldnt be texting you, either. If a potential boss wants to text you information about the interview or to complete the hiring process, dont proceed.Using an odd e-mail address.Red flags should wave if you spot a potential boss using a non-work related e-mail address, such as Yahoo, Gmail, or Hotmail. E-mails that pertain to work should always be done through a work e-mail address. And be aware if youre receiving e-mails at unusual hours- work-related e-mails should be sent during regular office hours.Pretending to be from another company.You should al ways research the person youre speaking with, even if she seems to be from a real company. Find out her work e-mail address, and see if it differs from the one youve been corresponding with. Then send an e-mail to the correct business e-mail address to determine whom youve really been communicating with. This is a valuable, but easy way to check for job scams.While there are many, many legitimate telecommuting jobs out there, there are always going to be those people who make their career by scamming others and posting job scams. So be careful as you apply for remote positions online, and take the necessary steps to protect your safety.Readers, what do you think of the latest job scams? What do you do to protect yourself? Let us know in the comments section below.